The landscape of collegiate sports has shifted drastically since athletes started being able to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness in 2021. But on Thursday, the landscape of NIL in college sports as we currently know it shifted once again thanks to an executive order signed by Donald Trump.
Trump has worked closely alongside former college football coaches Nick Saban and Tommy Tuberville in recent months amidst their pleas to “reform” NIL payments in college sports.
It seems like Trump heard the pleas from Saban and Tuberville crystal clear, officiating signing the executive order that prohibits third-party, pay-for-play payments to athletes, which was first reported by On3 Sports. Players will still be able to receive compensation from third parties for things like brand endorsements.
Naturally, there were plenty who took notice of this news and took to social media to share their thoughts on the matter, with reactions from the vast majority of college sports fans largely being mixed.
It’s still unclear how this will ultimately affect college sports for years to come, which will depend on how the executive order, if it holds up, goes about determining what third-party compensation includes.
Either way, this news certainly adds to the uncertain times that are quite clear hear to stay in college sports.